Kelly in Japan

Grading Frenzy!

// March 4th, 2009 // Uncategorized

Yes, I still have a bunch of pictures from Hokkaido to go through. No (Mom), I haven’t done them yet. But I’ve had good reason!

So although February started out well, it soon devolved into a never-ending sickness. Not the bad flu-type illness I blogged about earlier — just a cold that wouldn’t leave. It hasn’t helped that the weather has been rainy and miserable for most of the month. However, with the help of a fortuitous trip to onsen, several days off, and the last of my American vitamins, I’ve managed to finally fight my way back to 85%.

The school year is winding down, and I celebrated by giving my poor ichinensei the hardest OC exam in the history of time. It wasn’t entirely my fault, but I still feel a little bad doling out 30s and 40s on a 70-point exam. However, I am assured that these types of low scores only serve to make the students study harder for the next exam. The ninensei exam went over a little better, though (again, not entirely by my design) it did incude a composition portion which I am now having to grade. My fabulous 3d system for grading multiple choice saved me on the 300+ ichinensei; and I’m using that extra time for ninensei grading. The only downside is that I’ve had the counting song stuck in my head for a week as I tally up the wrong answers.

This week is junior high entrance exams. We have nearly 400 junior high students at school for three days, taking examinations to enter my academically advanced high school. I am to help with the grading of these exams (again, composition). It sounds like a scary task, so they are bribing us with super fabulous bento lunches, snacks and sweets. It’s kind of like an all-night study session at Denny’s, but with rice crackers instead of pancakes.

How about that Ben? Guess he won’t be pulling a Snape.

Keith and Sherry will be visiting us in a couple of weeks. Kory has been planning lots of adventures for them, and we’re looking forward to showing them around our new home!

I changed the blog to a new layout. Not finished, yet, of course, but I decided it was time for a break and a blog. What do you think so far?